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Ski Champions Reggie & Zach Crist

Reggie Crist

"Growing up in Sun Valley is like having 50 big brothers and sisters...everyone is pushing each other to have fun. It doesn't matter whether you are mountain biking, kayaking, or skiing--there is no place I would rather live." -- Reggie Crist

A member of the US Ski Team for ten years and one of the most accomplished X Games athletes of all time, Reggie Crist's single career goal is to ski "as much powder as humanly possible." As a retired World Cup downhiller and the only man to win the Skier X competition twice, he's already got a good start. He and his brother, Zach, are the first sibling pair to win X Games titles and have become icons in the world of skiing.

When not on the race course, Reggie and Zach are staple big mountain skiers with production companies such as Warren Miller and Rage Films. They have also been featured in several adventure films, claiming first descents on the polar ice cap of Greenland, the Himalayas of Nepal, the Alps of New Zealand, and the coastal giants of Alaska.

In the summer months look for them in the whitewater, riding big waves on sandy beaches or navigating Class 5 rapids by kayak.

Q & A with Reggie

Q: When and how did you start skiing? (performing, riding, boarding)
A: I learned to ski when I was 2 years old on the rope tow at Homewood, CA which confirms my belief that you don’t learn to ski unless your family teaches you how. Thanks Mom…Thanks Dad.

Q: What is your favorite place to ski in Sun Valley (perform, ride, etc) & why?
A: Baldy is a versatile mountain with lots of options, however I usually ski where I can find the best conditions…not necessarily a run or a place.

Q: What is your favorite activity when you are not skiing?
A: Surfing has taught me a lot about how to be a better skier in difficult situations. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow…

Q: What is your favorite non-skiing place in Sun Valley?
A: Anywhere along the hundreds of miles of singletrack mountain biking…

Q: Who do you consider your role model and why?
A: My parents have always been my role models. I just hope I can be like them when I grow up…

Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned?
A: Don’t worry about the things you can’t control and focus on the things that can make a difference.

Q: Where do you turn for motivation?
A: My wife Laura is incredibly strong physically and mentally. There is a calmness about her that inspires me.

Q: What is your favorite way to warm up in the winter/cool down in the summer?
A: I like to warm up on my stationary bike in the morning to get the blood flowing and then hit the slopes. Kayaking is the best way to cool down in the summer.

Q: What advice would you give to young people wanting to follow in your footsteps?
A: Follow your passion.

Sun Valley Champion Reggie Crist in the Press

Zach Christ

"For me, life is mostly about enjoying the outdoors with my family and there's no better playground than Sun Valley." -- Zach Crist

In 1998, after seven years with the US Ski Team, Zach Crist walked away from the intensity of World Cup ski racing and shifted his focus to the burgeoning freeride tour. There, along with older brother Reggie, he found his niche. Taking his first X Games championship in 2001 (he collected the Bronze in 2000), Zach continued to excel and shared the podium with Reggie in 2005 (earning a Silver while his brother took the Gold).

In the summer months Zach takes to the water: surfing and kayaking his way through the warm months, with a little mountain biking thrown in for good measure.

Q & A with Zach

Q: When and how did you start skiing? (performing, riding, boarding)
A: When I was 2, family ski outings in Tahoe gave me my first taste.

Q: What is your favorite activity when you are not skiing?
A: Mountain biking in the summer. Drinking beer at Apple's in the winter.

Q: When did you know that skiing was more than just a hobby?
A: It’s still a hobby – always will be.

Q: What is your favorite non-skiing place in Sun Valley?
A: My house.

Q: Who do you consider your role model and why?
A: My sister – mother of three and still makes men look like boys when it comes to outdoor recreation.

Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned?
A: To be humble. There’s always someone bigger, better, and more important than you.

Q: Where do you turn for motivation?
A: My family - my wife Monica and kids Ruby and Emmett inspire me to do my best.

Q: What is your favorite way to warm up in the winter/cool down in the summer?
A: Warm up at Java - cool down at Grumpy’s.

Q: What advice would you give to young people wanting to follow in your footsteps?
A: Blaze your own trail. Don’t try to be somebody you’re not.